EURADA News no. 288

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ANNEX 1 – p. 1 THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S WORKING PROGRAMME 2008 The 2008 working programme of the European Commission is structured around 2 types of initiatives : the strategic initiatives (12) and priority initiatives (48). Regarding the major fields of interest of RDAs, we identified the following list with eight initiatives : • White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change • Green Paper on European territorial cohesion • Communication « Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe » • Communication and Action Plan on Sustainable Industrial Policy (SIP) • Sustainable Production and Consumption (SPC) Action Plan • Green Paper on developing agricultural product quality policy • Council Regulation – Review of the Less Favoured Areas Scheme • Communication on anticipating and managing change Also noteworthy is that the European Commission will continue its work for the adoption of a general block exemption regulation under the legislation on regional aid in favour of SMEs, R&D, environment, employment and training. The following is a brief description of the challenges as well as the roadmap for each of the initiatives that have come to our attention. Brief description of the initiatives White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change Policy statement covering measures to ensure adaptation to climate change in a broad range of areas fundamental to the EU way of life (e.g. industry, agriculture, energy, fisheries, forestry, tourism, social policy), reduce their vulnerability, increase their resilience to the inevitable negative impacts of climate change and anticipate and accompany those changes. The objective is to avoid significant effects on human health, biodiversity and habitats, and on EU citizens' quality of life. Measures in the White Paper will also imply changes in existing Community policies. Green Paper on European territorial cohesion The objectives of this action are: • to analyse from an institutional, political and operational perspective the way in which Member States understand and apply the concept of territorial cohesion. This work will be mainly based on questionnaires and analysis of operational programmes. • to provide a common definition of the concept and to propose possible tools for a better integration of this territorial dimension in the Structural funds and in some sectoral policies having a territorial impact. • to initiate an in-depth dialogue between Member States and the Commission.
ANNEX 1 – p. 2 Communication « Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe » Sustainability package: a) Communication and Action Plan on Sustainable Industrial Policy (SIP) b) Sustainable Production and Consumption (SPC) Action Plan Green Paper on agricultural product quality policy Council Regulation - Review of the Less Favoured Areas Scheme (delimitation of designated areas) Communication on anticipating and managing change The Small Business Act for Europe will combine a mix of general principles (for example, specific treatment for SMEs in legislation according to 'Think Small First' principle, reduce obstacles to go cross border, improved access to EU programmes and increase SMEs access to innovation and growth), legal actions (for example proposal for a European Company Statute) and concrete actions to be taken both by Member States and the Commission (for example improving SMEs access to public procurement). The SIP/SCP initiative consists of an integrated strategy to help the EU economy become more environmentally sustainable and competitive. The strategy covers innovation, the internal market and the external dimension, including production and consumption patterns. This initiative will set out the approach, map out action plans for delivery and may include legislative proposals. A key element of the initiative will be the launch of a new product policy setting dynamic sustainability requirements, through an extension of the Energy-using products Directive, coupled with voluntary "performance standards". These will be leveraged internationally through international sectoral agreements. There will also be important measures to stimulate innovation (e.g. a European Environmental Technology Verification Scheme), stimulate smarter consumption (including through the revision of the Ecolabel) and measures to help Industry to make production processes more sustainable (including through the revision of the EMAS scheme and through the SME Environmental compliance programme) and initiatives towards more sustainable public and private procurement. The Green Paper will explore ideas and options for farmers and producers who want to orient their production towards quality and thereby better meet consumer demand and add value to their production. The document will ask for contributions, views and proposals for developing measures and the appropriate legal framework to facilitate a shift to quality production and marketing. It will build on the outcome of the Food Quality Certification Conference (5-6.2.2007, Brussels) and respond to calls for EU agriculture to follow a path of greater market orientation. The Green Paper will also seek the views of stakeholders on the development of existing EC quality schemes for geographical indications and traditional specialities. Support for Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) is granted with the objective to contribute through the continued use of agricultural land to maintaining the countryside, as well as to maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems. It is a vital part of the Rural Development Policy. The initiative will result in an improved delimitation system for areas with handicaps, thus adjusting the measure to changed circumstances. The Communication will present a political overview of initiatives undertaken since the adoption of the Communication on Restructuring and employment (COM(2005) 120). The communication will launch a European partnership for the adaptation to change highlighting the role and responsibilities of main actors in change management (Commission, Member States, regions, sectors, enterprises, workers and social partners). The Communication will launch the second phase of consultation of European social partners on anticipating company restructuring.
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EURADA News no. 288

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